Photo of Jefferson Fritz by Russell Marwitz/True To The Cru/russellmarwitz.com
DES MOINES, Iowa- A second Crusader alum has signed with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Indoor Football League, as the organization announced that defensive back Jefferson Fritz will join the team for the 2024 season.
Fritz joins Kyle King as the two UMHB alums currently signed by the Barnstormers heading into the 2024 campaign, which kicks off on March 23 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
An All-America standout at safety through five seasons in Belton, Fritz garnered numerous accolades while guiding the Crusader defense. A native of Kaufman, Texas, he tallied 195 tackles and 24 interceptions in 62 games for UMHB, along with starting at punter for multiple seasons.
Fritz garnered two D3football.com First-Team All-America honors, three First Team All-ASC selections, two ASC Defensive Player of the Year awards during his time with The Cru. He capped his career in 2021, helping UMHB to a national championship win over North Central in the Stagg Bowl, and finished as the 2021 D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year and a Gagliardi Trophy finalist.
“Jeff had an unreal college career,” said head coach Dave Mogensen in a press release. “Three time first team All-American, National Defensive Player of the Year, and a National Championship. He has the size, speed, and traits that higher level leagues desire. If he can come here to Iowa and duplicate that same success, he won’t be here very long.”
Fritz is amongst the most accomplished defensive backs in UMHB history, ranking No. 1 in the program record books in career interceptions (24) and interceptions in a single season (12). He also holds the record for single-season punting yardage, averaging 44.4 yards per punt in 2019.
